7/02/06 – Yesterday was the much anticipated 50th Sawbill Reunion. More than 200 former crewmembers, friends, family and dogs all made their way to the end of the trail and made this year’s reunion one to remember. People began slowly trickling in during the week with the majority showing up in time for a back porch party Friday night. On Saturday evening we had an incredible bratwurst and homebrew barbeque followed by a special showing of the Sawbill Squatzi movie, a program by the crew and a late night barn dance! Thanks to all the wonderful people that made this weekend a sucess. See you all for the 60th!!! -Corey

KB puts the final touches on her cake.

Mark Boggie and Bill Hansen having a chat at the barbeque.

Jim and Fran Sampson enjoy their meal.

All the former and current employees of Sawbill Canoe Outfitters.

A bird’s eye view of the crew!

Alison, Carl and I wait in the wings for our entrance during the crew program.

The Blues Brothers dancing in the dome.

6/29/05 – This week the reunion gang has slowly started to trickle in and all of us current crewmembers are getting the chance to meet all the veterans. The reunion preparations are coming together nicely and everyone is anticipating a wild and wonderful weekend! -Corey

Crewmember Molly Breslin poses with her dad, John Breslin, after their canoe trip down the Lady Chain.

Crewmember Pat Nash dazzles us with his special lasagna dish.

Our very own Clare Hansen demonstrates her ability to walk on water. What’s your secret, Clare?

Here’s a photo of a gypsy moth trap, part of a Forest Service prevention campaign in our area.

6/25/06 – Another beautiful day here at Sawbill. The temperature is soaring into the 80’s again and a gentle breeze is keeping away the bugs!!! Not too shabby! -Corey

Second generation crewmember Tess Dornfeld reported for duty this past week. Here she is all smiles on the store.

Sawbill customer David Zeigler displays the antique Hamm’s beer can he found at a campsite during his recent trip.

6/24/06 – The last few days have been action packed as usual at Sawbill. We’ve had visits from friends and family as well as the arrival of two veteran crewmembers, Molly Breslin and Tess Dornfeld. Add to that a hail storm, Carl Hansen’s half-marathon, a wild ladies night in Grand Marais and a dysfunctional internet connection and you have the recipe for an eventful week! -Corey

Cindy’s cousin Johnny and his family drove all the way from California and came by for a canoe trip.

Crewmember Matt Hartmann sits with the wildflowers alongside the Sawbill Trail.

All of our Sawbill ladies dressed to the nines enjoying dinner at the Angry Trout in Grand Marais.

The quintessential Cindy Hansen living it up on Ladies Night.

A handful of hail. A twenty minute hailstorm hit Sawbill on Thursday causing dismay amongst canoeists and wreaking havoc in our flowerbeds!

6/21/06 – Longtime former crewmember Adam Hansen recently went on a canoe trip with his friends. They camped on Frederick Lake and day tripped into an undisclosed location where the lake trout flowed like Wine. After catching more than their share of fish the group returned to their site to prepare their feast.

Here is Adam holding one of the many fish he and his friends caught on their excursion.

A Christmas clad Adam displays and takes credit for the huge fish his friend Nathan Johnson caught. Way to go Nathan!

6/19/06 – HAPPY 70TH BIRTHDAY DUANE BRENEGAN!
Jack Brenegan and his group, ranging in age from 58 – 73, have been coming through Sawbill Outfitters for almost 25 years now. Each year the group of six surprise new crewmembers with their kind spirits as well as their themed team hats. The men are divided into three teams of two: Team U-Boat, named after a WWII submarine, Team Norski is named for the Norwegian brothers of the group and Team F.U.B.A.R. is an acronym too inappropriate for even the Sawbill website. The teams have a fishing competition each year. This year Willie caught the biggest Walleye at 30″, but Fred caught the largest smallmouth at 19″. I asked Jack which team ended up winning the fish-off this year and he sheepishly replied, “I have to be careful about what I say, but Norski probably had the biggest Walleye…we always do.” A biased conversation or not, we’re already looking forward to the return of our favorite competitors. Each year they entertain us with their wit, happiness and love for their time together in the wilderness.
-Lida

from left to right: Willie Schwefel, Jerry Keiser, Fred Escher, Derrell Parker, Jack Brenegan and Duane Brenegan…Teams U-Boat, F.U.B.A.R. and Norski

6/18/06 – Frank and Mary Alice Hansen have been keeping busy as usual. Frank maintains his position as President of the Board of Directors of the Grand Marais Clinic and continues to write his weekly column for the local newspaper. In his moments of free time Frank can be found sitting with the storekeeper, chatting with customers and sharing his many years of entertaining wisdom with everyone. Mary Alice also manages to keep her days booked by keeping up her gardens, playing weekly bridge games and has recently been spending her free time scrapbooking for her grandchildren. Her book, Sawbill: History and Tales continues to be our best seller!
This summer Frank and Mary Alice celebrate their 60th year of marriage as well as 50 years as successful business owners.
-Lida

Mr. and Mr. Hansen all smiles on the store (Carl and Frank)

Mary Alice keeps close to her rose bushes

6/15/06 – We weren’t so much surprised as excited when former crewmember Jasmine Hanson breezed in for an unexpected visit recently. She brought her boyfriend Derek with her so the ladies at Sawbill could gush over him. Crewmember Pat Nash made a beeline for the door as he was “having flashbacks” of summers past when the ladies of Sawbill reigned in full glory and the wild and riotous laughter never ceased. Jasmine and Derek just bought their first house together and will move in over 4th of July weekend.
-Lida

Jasmine Hanson is back on the ball at Sawbill with her boyfriend Derek

6/13/06 – The graduations just keep on coming. Ruthie Hansen, long time Sawbill crewmember, graduated Saturday from the University of Chicago. She is currently job hunting and the scope of her search is world-wide. If you have a job for an excellent writer with lots of practical business and people skills – or if you just want to congratulate her – send her an email at: ruthie@uchicago.edu.

A happy graduate in her beautiful graduation dress.

Ruthie with her proud father.

6/11/06 – Fellow crewmember Corey Belt and I recently used our vacation days to cover a few of Sawbill’s most frequented canoe routes. The weather was great, the bugs were minimal and lots of ground was covered making for an exciting adventure.
-Lida

Vibrant colors of the lily pads sparkle in the bright sun on the Frost River.

Lida leaps off the cliffs on Beth Lake.

Corey was thrilled to reel in our Lake Trout dinner on Little Saganaga Lake.

Cirrus clouds disburse across the beautiful night sky on Polly Lake.

The variety of waterfalls seems to be an endless exploration on the Hazel Lake portage.